With some secondary school uniforms costing upwards of £100 to fully kit out the new starters (and that’s before the cost of school shoes and trainers) I wondered what parents really thought about the tradition of wearing uniforms in English schools.

I think the expectation that parents should spend large amounts of money in order to send their child to compulsory school is a bit much.

The number of families who use food banks has increased dramatically over the years, so why should another financial burden be thrust upon parents?

Aside from the cost issue, this summer heatwave has made me question how comfortable some of the stricter uniform dress codes are. I wouldn’t fancy wearing a tie and blazer in a hot classroom, especially when the teachers aren’t expected to. It must be difficult to concentrate for long periods when you’re hot and uncomfortable.

Fostering creative and independent thinking must be difficult too, when children are discouraged from expressing the slightest hint of individuality in the way they dress. Even certain hairstyles can see a child excluded, reducing the ways in which they can add a touch of personality to their look.

It's that time of year when parents fork out for school uniforms (Image: Getty)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating a complete free-for-all, but an affordable ‘dress code’ might be a more accessible option for modern families. Generic white shirts paired with black trousers/skirts and a specific sweatshirt colour would be just as smart but cost far less.

I can see the benefits of children having special ‘school clothes’, it’s handy to have something separate from their normal clothes to help keep routine and save morning wardrobe dilemmas. I imagine it also helps get the more lively pupils into ‘school mode’.

I wanted to know what other parents thought about school uniform so I asked in the Grimsby Families Facebook group . Do they think blazers and ties are unnecessarily expensive, and dare I say it: outdated? I was surprised by the answers.

Most parents thought uniform was a good thing, with the most common reason being that it doesn’t single children out. Many of the comments that supported uniform also mentioned that they find some of the secondary school uniforms with ties and blazers to be expensive and strict, suggesting shirt and trousers were smart enough on their own.

School uniforms can be pricey but do most parents still back them? (Image: Getty)

One Grimsby parent, Kate, made some very good points. She said: “I think uniform makes it less likely for nice stuff to get stolen or damaged. It puts kids on a more level pegging and increases their visibility on school trips etc.”

Another local mother, Holly, believes the price of some uniforms is unrealistic, saying: “I really feel for struggling families who have to buy blazers as part of their uniform. There are ways of saving money like buying second hand, but you’re not guaranteed that they’ll be the right size or in good condition and that could contribute to bullying (kids will always find something to pick on.)”

Many people like that their child’s school has a uniform, but feel it could be modified for the summer months. Local mother, Sue, shared her experience.

She said: “I agree with uniform all the way, but they need to relax some of the rules like when it's hot, like secondary schools not letting the children take their blazers off.

“My son got a touch of heat stroke before the holidays. He was complaining of headache and being sick, so I kept him off. I always feel tired when I’m too hot, so surely if the kids are allowed to cool down, you’ll get better work from them.”

It'll soon be back to school time (Image: Getty)

Grimsby Facebooker Marie-Louise thinks school uniforms are a good idea but agrees with the above comment about the associated costs, she also adds that the dress code can be “so strict that it almost depersonalises the child. Dictating the way hair is blended in boys and what colour underwear kids have to wear is just too much.” I had no idea there were rules about underwear colour, but after a quick internet search, it appears some schools enforce certain requirements around undergarments (although I’m not sure if this happens locally).

The general consensus from the commenters was that uniform is strongly supported, but parents believe that some of the rules should be updated.

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There was a lot of concern expressed for those families who don’t have a great deal of money to spare, and suggestions were made about schools having a fund for those who can’t afford specified clothing items.

Although Grimsby parents don’t seem to consider the idea of school uniforms to be outdated, it appears they would like to see a more up-to-date approach to the comfort and cost of it. I think uniforms could be updated include a little more freedom, and reflect the budget of a modern family.